Carpet-cleaning machine



Aug. 29, 1939. J, K, TING'LE 2,171,072

CARPET-CLEANING MACHINE Original Filed April 29, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l JOHN K- TING-LE,

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Aug. 29, 1939. J. K. TINGLE CARPET-CLEANING MACHINE Original Filed April 29, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J'n/Um/ J'OHN K.'TINGLE,

Aug. 29, 1939. J TNGLE 2,171,072

CARPET-CLEANING MACHINE Original Filed April 29, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 33 FIGLA. v 38 Patented Aug. 29, 1939 2,171,072.

2,171,072 CARPET-CLEANING MACHINE John K, Tingle, Connersville, Ind.

Original application April 29, 1935, Serial No. 18,720. Divided and this application March 4, 1936, Serial No. 67,107

2 Claims. (01. 6845) This invention relates to carpet cleaning maan action thereon tending to alternately force chines and in particular to such machines wherethe cleaning fluid into the carpet and then within the carpet and the cleaning members move draw it therefrom, to make it possible to clean relatively to one another during the cleaning opdelicate carpets and hooked rugs or the like 5 eration. thoroughly and without such damage to such 5.;- It is an object of my invention to provide a rugs and carpets, as has been previously excarpet cleaning machine, wherein the carpet is perienced. supported on the machine and moved relatively It is a further object of myinvention to ,pro--' thereto, the carpet being subjected to the cleanvide such a machine wherein the rug or carpet l0. ing action of relatively soft, freely rotating roller in process of being cleaned is subjected to no ex- 0 members and, in addition, to the cleaning action cessive friction or the penetration of rigid. proof reciprocating cleaning members intermittently jections, but wherein the carpet is bodily suppressed thereagainst and withdrawn therefrom, ported and moved between an endless conveyor while supplied with a cleaning solution. belt and freely rotating extremely soft and re- It is a further object of my invention to provide silient rollers while being subjected to the altera carpet cleaning machine through which the nately compressive and suction action of soft carpet is moved while subjected to the cleaning and resilient members. These members may be action of resilient rolls which, in free rotation, termed trudgers since they are alternately reciphave substantially planar contact with the movrocated to and from the carpet surface in such 20, ing rug and which have alternately pressing and a manner as to simulate the treading action of suction actions thereon, the carpet being simulhuman feet in the primitive method of cleaning taneously supplied with a cleaning solution and carpets and rugs, which is widely used in the further subjected to the alternately compress- Orient.

ing and suction action of reciprocating resilient It is a further object of my invention to prov cleaning members which are intermittently apvide various constructions of cleaning members 2 plied to the moving'carpet. whereby the pressing and suction efiects of the It is a further object of my invention to procleaning members may be varied by substitution vide endless conveyor means for supporting a of one form of cleaning member for the other; substantial length of the carpet and moving it, It is a further object of my invention to pro- 30.; through the machine whereby to obviate undevide cleaning members or trudgers of rhomboidal 0'.

sirable, excessive tension and buckling of the caroutline whereby to prevent the occurrence of unpet in traveling through the machine and to recleaned zones or portions of the moving carpet duce to a minimum the destructive eifect of such and wherein the adjacent edges of said cleaning action upon fragile and expensive rugs. members are closely disposed on a line which is 351 It is a further object of my invention to proangularly disposed to the path'of the moving 3 vide a carpet cleaning machine, through'which carpet. the carpet is moved while being subjected at one It is a further object of my invention to propoint to-the pressing action of a cleaning memvide resilient attachment of the cleaning member while a cleaning solution is supplied thereto, bers to the supporting and reciprocating means 40 this cleaning solution being subsequently partially therefor. 40-

squeezed outof the carpet and'the carpet there- These and other advantages will appear from beyond'being subjected'to the action of another the following description taken in connection cleaning member pressing against the carpet, with the drawings, in which a preferred embodiwhile rinsing water issupplied thereto. ment is shown for the purpose of illustration. It is a further object ofmy invention to pro- This application is a division of my applica- 45 vide such a carpet cleaning machine wherein the tion Serial No. 18,720, filed April 29, 1935. cleaning members are operated alternately from In the drawings: the same driving mechanism. Figure 1 is a plan view of the carpet cleaning It is a further object of my invention to promachine of my invention;

vide such a carpet cleaning machine wherein the Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the 50' use of cleaning members sliding across the surmachine shown in Figure 1, taken along the line face of the carpet is dispensed with and wherein 22 of Figure 1;

the cleaning members are so applied to the car- Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational View of pct as to have an alternately pressing and suca part of my cleaning member reciprocating tion action upon the carpet whereby to have means, taken along the line 33 of Figure-1; 55

Figure 4 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1, with certain parts of the cleaning member reciprocating mechanism omitted in the interest of clearness;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a modified form of cleaning member;

Figure 6 is an end elevational view in section of the member shown in Figure 5, taken along the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a second modified form of cleaning member;

Figure 8 is an end elevational view in section of the member shown in Figure '7, taken on the line 8--8 of Figure 7. 7

Referring to the drawings, the frame of my machine comprises a pair of identical vertically disposed side frames, generally designated 2, between which is integrally attached and supported a base or table member, generally designated I. The side frames 2 have legs 3 and braces 4 (Figure 4) for a purpose which will appear obvious. The base or table member I is horizontally disposed and comprises end portions 5 and I lying in the same; plane and a central portion 6, which has its surface countersunk a definite distance from the plane of the top surface of members 5 and l in order to support the endless belt 8 with its top reach'or surface parallel to the top surfaces of the portions 5 and I of the base or table member I. The portion 6 of the table is spaced from the end portions 5 and I by apertures 9 and I through which the endless belt or conveyor 8 may travel fromlthe under-surface to r and over the upper surface of the portion 6 from the under part of the frame, where it is supported in a manner which will be hereinafter described.

J ournaled in the side frames 2 for free rotation are the transverse horizontally disposed shafts II and I2. The shaft II has integrally attached thereto a conveyor belt supporting roller I3. A second. belt supporting roller I is likewise attached to the shaft I2. Toone end of the'shaft I2 at a'substantial distance outside the adjacent side frame 2 is attached a worm gear I5. The shaft I2 also carries a pair of sprockets I6 adjacent each end and disposed outside the respective side frames 2. Rigidly attached to the side frame 2 adjacent the worm gear I5 is a pair of spaced brackets H which are adapted tosupport a longitudinally disposed shaft I8, having at one end a worm I9 which is adapted to mesh with the worm gear I5. At the opposite end of the shaft I8 is attached an eccentric cam member 29. Secured to the shaft I8 between the worm I9 and eccentric cam member 20 is a drive pulley 2| which is adapted to bedriven by a motor 22, or any other suitable prime mover by means of the drive belt 23. It will thus be seen that, upon operation of the prime mover 22, the pulley 2| will be rotated as'vvill 'the shaft rotation of'worm I9 and eccentric cam member 20." The rotation of worm I9 is transmitted through worm gear I5 to shaft I2, which causes rotation of the belt roller M, and the conveyor belt 8 is thus caused to move about supporting rollers I3 and I4 in the direction indicated by the arrowin Figure 2f At the end of the frame adjacent the conveyor belt' supporting roller I4 is rotatably mounted a shaft 25 having thereon the attached sizing roller 24. The shaft 25 has sprockets 26 secured thereon adjacent each end outside the side frames and thesprockets 25 are connected to the respective sprockets I6-on shaft I2 by meansof sprocket I8, which causes freely rotatable in the bearing surfaces formed by cooperation of the bearing caps 29 and the pillow blocks to which they are attached. To each shaft 30 is secured a roller comprising the cylindrical body portion 3| and a surrounding sleeve or clothing 32, which is preferably formed of some extremely resilient material, such as sponge rubber. The resiliency of the clothing 32 permits the rollers to make substantially planar contact with the rug or carpet 33'which is adapted to travel on the top surfaces of the base or table member I and the outer surface of the top reach of the conveyor belt 8, which is supported by the central portion 6 of the table or base member I. As shown, there are four of these freely rotatable rollers, the end rollers having their supporting shafts 3!] supported directly above, parallel to and spaced from the respective conveyor belt supporting shafts I I and I2. The shaft 30 which is disposed directly above the shaft I2 is supported at each end for rotation in a sliding bearing block 34. The sliding bearing blocks 34 are retained for sliding movement vertically'in guides 35, which are preferably formed integral with the respective side frames 2, but may be L made separately therefrom and suitably rigidly attached thereto. In each side frame 2, below the bottom of the block guiding surface of the guides 35 are recesses 36 which are adapted to receive compression springs 31, which support the respective bearing blocks 34 at the opposite ends thereof. Screw-threaded through the top portions of the bearing block guides 35 are bearing block adjusting screws 38. By this means the shaft 30 is urged upwardly by the action of the compression springs 31 and may be adjusted downwardly against this spring pressure by suitable adjustment of the bearing block adjusting screws 38] Likewise this arrangement permits of adjustment which may be necessary to properly'align'the end shaft 3|].

As shown in Figure 4, the resiliency of the clothing or covering 32 on the rolls is suficiently resilient to permit the rollers to be adjusted so that their end peripheries remain substantially circular in section, while the central portions are substantially deformed by the carpet 33, whereby the covering of the rollers makes substantially plane contact with the carpet at the central portions, while the end portions provide means to dam' up or prevent escape of cleaning liquid or the like past the respective rolls longitudinally of the machine. In other words, due to their extreme resiliency, the rollers are in effect dams between the respective portions of the machine and form receptacles or creeks between each pair of the respective rollers. This extreme resiliency also performs another function. When the rug 33 is traversed longitudinally of the frame by means of the traveling upper reach of conveyor belt 8, the respective rollers are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2, and it will be seen that the rollers will exert a compression or compressive effect on the carpet at the rearmost portion of their contact therewith, while a suction effect is exerted at the foremost portion of the contact zone, as indicated. by the legends in Figure 2. V

It will be seen therefore that by operation of the'structure above described, the rug will be moved bodily, longitudinally of the frame by the traveling conveyor belt 3 and the free rotation of the rollers will cause alternately compressive and suction effects on the carpet during its travel. Toward the end of its travel over the base or table member I, the resilient roller which is mounted in the adjustable bearing blocks 34 will be preferably tightly adjusted downwardly whereby to act as a squeeze roller in order to squeeze out any desired quantity of the luid which will be deposited therein by means which will be hereinafter described. After the rug 53 has undergone the squeeze or wringing effect of this last-mentioned roll or squeeze roll, sizing will be applied thereto by the rotating sizing roller i l.

Rigidly secured to the side frames 2 and extending upwardly from the base or table member I, inside the pillow blocks on the side frames 2, are the side plates or splash plates 45, which are closely engaged by the radial end portions of the top rollers during their operation. The respective pairs of rollers thus cooperate with the side or splash plates 45 to form receptacles for liquids introduced between each pair of rollers. Cleaning fluid conduits 4i preferably supply a cleaning fluid, such as soap'and water, between twopairs of the rolls and thus form creeks or bodies of cleaning fluid. The first of these creeks or bodies is of substantially short extent longitudinally of the frame because of the close spacing of the first pair of rollers, while the second cleaning creek or body is of substantially greater extent longitudinally of the frame in order to accommodate a reciprocating cleaning member which will be hereinafter described.

In the creek or body disposed between the adjustable squeeze roller and its adjacent top roller is a pair of conduits 52 which are equipped at their lower ends with spray nozzles 3 of suitable form in order to properly distribute the rinsing water supplied by the conduits #32. This portion or body may be designated the rinsing creek. The conduits ll may be suitably attached to any suitable source of cleaning fluid and the rinsing conduits 52 may be suitably connected to any source of supply of clear, clean water. Where desired, suitable outlet means, preferably controlled by a conventional valve, may be applied to one of the side plates 45 adjacent the lower portion of each creek in order to provide for proper drainage of the respective creeks and for control of the liquid level therein. Suitable control means for controlling the supply of cleaning fluid through conduits 4| and also through rinsing water conduits 42 will preferably be used, but for the sake of clearness of the disclosure, they are not shown.

By means of the above described structure, the carpet 33 may be traversed by the conveyor belt 8 under the first roller where it first undergoes a compressive action and then a suction action and then travels through the first cleaning creek or body, where it is exposed to cleaning fluid which is forced into the carpet at the compression zone of the second top roller, and then withdrawn from the carpet by the suction effect of the second roller. The carpet has then reached the second cleaning creek in which, in addition to being exposed to the cleaning fluid in the second cleaning creek, it is subjected to the alternate compressive and suction effect of a reciprocating cleaning member 45 having a coating or clothing of extremely resilient material which is reciprocated toward and from the upper surface of the carpet by means which will be hereinafter described. After being subjected to the action of the reciprocating cleaning member, the carpet is then subjected to the compressive effect of the third roller, which is followed by the suction effect thereof, which tends to draw forth the cleaning fluid from the carpet pile in order that rinsing fluid from the spray nozzle 43 may penetrate the pile of the carpet. The rinsing effect of the nozzles 43 is aided by the action of a second reciprocating cleaning member 45 identical with the first one. After the rinsing has taken place, the carpet is then subjected to the compression effect of the squeeze roller and then to its suction effect, whereby the carpet, after emerging from beneath the squeeze roller, is substantially dry. The action of the sizing roller 24 in supplying sizing to the carpet completes the operation of cleaning the carpet or rug.

Suitably attached to each side frame 2 at the mid-portion thereof is a vertically disposed support member 50 havinga bearing cap i attached to the upper surface thereof, which bearing cap cooperates with a bearing surface in the member 50 to support one end of the cross shaft 52. At the extreme end of the cross shaft 52 above the shaft 18 is an arm 53 which is rigidly attached to the cross shaft 52. At the free end of the arm 53 is a member 54 having a spherical portion 55 at the lower end thereof below the arm 53 and having the upper end thereof screw-threaded in the free end of the arm 53 and being secured in adjustment with respect thereto by means of lock nut 56 thereon. The ball member or spherical head 55 of the member 54 is adapted. to be received in a spherical seat or socket at one end of a link 51. The lower end of the link 5? is pivotally attached by means of a pintle 58 to the eccentric cam follower 59. It is thus seen that on rotation of the shaft l8, as before described, the rotation of the eccentric cam 20 will cause reciprocation of the link 5?, whereby to cause oscillation of the cross shaft 52 through the arm 53. By means of the adjustment of the member 54 with respect to the arm 53, adjustment in angle of the cross shaft 52 may be made as desired.

Spaced at intervals and integrally secured to the cross shaft 521's a plurality of parallel walking beams 60, which are straight, as shown in Figure 2, and each end thereof being bifurcated, as shown in Figure 1. Extending through the bifurcated portions of the ends of the walking beams 55 are pins 5! having keys 62 extending therethrough for easy removal thereof. Pivotally secured in each bifurcated portion is a link 63 which has the opposite end thereof pivoted by means of a transversely extending shaft 64 to a block 55. At the lower end of the block 55 is a horizontally extending aperture, in which is pivoted by means of a pin 55 the upstanding flange 51 of a cleaning member support plate 68. The cleaning member support plate 68 is received in the central portion of the cleaning member body 45, which has horizontally disposed flanges 65 extending inwardly at the upper ends thereof.

Disposed between the supporting plate 58 and the lower inner surface of the cleaning member body 45 is a compression spring which is adapted to urge the cleaning member downwardly with respect to the supporting plate 68 into the position shown at the left of Figure 2. Integrally attached to the lower surface of the bottom portion of the cleaning member body 45 is a coating or clothing 46, which is preferably of resilient material, such as sponge rubber, and is preferably of composition similar to the clothing 32 used on the respective top rollers. For varying types of carpets, it will be found desirable to use coatings 46 of different constructions and compositions and, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, these coatings may comprise a vacuum cup construction of material of less resiliency and. softness than that used for the construction shown in Figure 2, and in Figures '7 and 8 I have shown a second modified form of cleaning member, in which the coatings 46 have projections instead of vacuum cups, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The cleaning members shown in Figures 1 and 2 are of rhornboidal form and I have shown, in Figure 2, the transverse grooves which are preferably used, in some instances, instead of vacuum cups or projections shown in Figures 5 to 8 inclusive. In any event the cleaning member bodies will be of rhombo'idal form in plan view, whereby the space existing between the adjacent ends thereof will not extend in a straight line longitudinally of the path of travel of the carpet, whereby I prevent the production of longitudinally extending narrow zones wherein the carpet has not been thoroughly cleaned. The ends of the shafts 66 are received and guided vertically in grooves of guide blocks a suitably supported by the side plates 40 or in any other desired manner. 7

With the machine operating in the manner de scribed above, the respective cleaning members 55 will be reciprocated by oscillation of the cross shaft 52. By means of the adjustment of the member 54, as pointed out'above, the arc of oscillation of the cross shaft 52 may be varied whereby to adjust the respective cleaning members for equal compressive action or for unequal pressing action upon the carpet so that one may be made to exert a relatively light pressure upon the moving carpet or a relatively heavier pressure upon the moving carpet or vice versa, as desired. Likewise the squeezing action of the squeeze roller maybe varied as desired by adjustment of the ad justing screws 38. If desired, the sizing roller 24, sizing solution tank 28 and the power connection for driving the roller 24 may be omitted. Likewise the above-described structure is merely illustrative and it is to be understood that the number of freely rotating top rolls may be varied as desired, and that I may use any desired number of reciprocating cleaning members. A noteworthy feature of my invention, as illustrated, is the damming function of the freely rotating top rolls and their cooperation with the side-or-splash plates 40 to form creeks or bodies, as above pointed out. A further feature is the alternate compressive and suction effects of the rollers on the carpet and a further feature is the support of a substantial portion of the carpet and the movement of it bodily through the operative portions of the machine, whereby to totally obviate the destructive effect of excessive tension and buckling of the various portions of the carpet, and a further feature is the obviation of the contact of any sharp projections with the moving carpet and the obviation of the use of transversely reciprocating members and the sawing frictional effect of such members upon the longitudinally supported and moved carpet.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as come within the scope of the claims and the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a carpet cleaning machine, means for moving a carpet therethrough, a plurality of cleaning members comprising trudgers supported above the path of said carpet, means for Vertically reciprocating said trudgers to cause them to alternately contact and compress a portion of said carpet being moved therealong, and resilient contacting means disposed on the ends'of each of said trudgers, said resilient means being arranged to engage the surface of the carpet obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis of the path the carpet travels.

2. In a carpet cleaning machine, means for moving a carpet through the machine, a pair of cleaning members comprising trudgers supported above the path of said carpet, means for vertically reciprocating said trudgers so as to engage the carpet with one set of trudgers and then the other, said trudgers having resilient contacting means disposed on the ends thereof of rhombodial shape and arranged to engage the surface of the carpet obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis of the path of the carpet.

JOHN K. TINGLE. 

